U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began her historic 3-day trip to Myanmar this week, the first high-level U.S. official to visit the country in roughly half a century. Unlike her diplomatic predecessors, however, Clinton touched down not in Yangon, the historic captial of the country once known as Burma, but in Naypyidaw, the new seat of government.
Clinton's visit marks a sharp change in U.S. policy, as the Obama administration begins its strategic move to Asia and amid signals from Myanmar's leaders that democratic openness may, in fact, finally be coming to the long-isolated country. As Jim Della-Giacoma wrote in Foreign Policy in October, "After 20 years without a parliament and democratic process, its new leaders are now showing a surprising impatience with the status quo and are changing the way this country is ruled."
But signs of the military junta's authoritarian imprint abound. Naypyidaw, or "abode of kings," the pronunciation-defying administrative seat of Myanmar's government, was only a glimmer in the junta's eye as recently as 2005, when construction began in a remote mountain jungle. By the middle of the next year, the capital -- much of it reportedly built underground -- was racing toward completion, when all of a sudden everything from file cabinets to government employees were trucked virtually overnight to the new site (on an auspicious date, allegedly proscribed by former senior leader Gen. Than Shwe's personal astrologer). Today, the partially completed capital boasts both sprawling temples and deserted streets, massive administrative buildings and empty public squares.
Above, a smiling Clinton walks from her airplane upon her arrival in the capital on Nov. 30.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
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CHARLESFRITH
9:07 PM ET
November 30, 2011
Burmese Days
I've spent time backpacking through Burma earlier this decade and so this photoset really achieved it's purpose of acquainting me with the new capital so thank you for that.
My theory for the move from Rangoon is that flooding is expected on the coastline. Thailand has done much the same thing by moving it's governmental complex further north of Bangkok.
Anyway, great photography apart from the lizard at the beginning.
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9:08 PM ET
November 30, 2011
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STEVELBSTN
10:34 AM ET
December 1, 2011
Hilary
I do like Hilary - looking a bit older now though.
Steve
MAZO
6:04 AM ET
December 2, 2011
Where did they get the money........
....to build this huge city out of scratch so quickly ?? Most of the infrastructure looks pretty good and for a country where most of the people are below the poverty line and that is severely lacking industrial infrastructure, this new modern city with urban developments being built so quickly is quite amazing.
I don't think many countries in the region could have built a city like Naypyidaw so quickly and so well planned.
BO BO
1:04 PM ET
December 2, 2011
Where did they get the money......
@MAZO... The junta got the money to build this Brand New City , from the sales of VAST Off-shore natural gas reserves found along Western and Southern Coasts of Burma. The 30 year reserves of Natural Gas are sold cheap to China and Thailand , while the whole of Burmese population having to endure decades of constant shortage of electricity and fuel shortage even to cook their daily meals . Also, millions of Acres of Teak forests in Kachin, Shan , Kayin and Mon States had also diminished due to rampant deforestation by the regime & its cronies as China would buy anything from Burma including "Living Trees and Human Beings".. This is how the junta can afford to build a Brand New City carved out of the jungle.
CALUME
6:12 AM ET
December 2, 2011
yes you are right
Yeah she's become old. Look at those wrinkles on her face. But i appreciate the photography though.
yes you are right, i agree with you . Thanks for your comment
translator
FPLOVERAAA
8:28 PM ET
December 26, 2011
This was yet another morally
This was yet another morally reprehensible, inhumane, and savage attack orchestrated by Pakistan in order to foment sectarian violence and further turmoil in Afghanistan. This should silence all the misinformed leftists who glorify the Taliban as some type of noble grassroots mkv converterMKV ConverterYouTube Converter for MacYouTube To MP4 ConverterPdf Converter for MacPDF Editor for MacPDF Editor for MacPdf Converter for Mac
resistance movement. They're dogs of Pakistan who share no affinity with the Afghan people. ISAF and the Afghan Army must intensify this war and eradicate these scum. We've been too passive and fickle vis-a-vis these animals. Peace and reconciliation are out of the question. You don't negotiate with these kind of child-killing, immoral fanatics, you devise a strategy geared toward annihilating them once and for all.
NOM DE GUERRE 1967
12:10 PM ET
December 2, 2011
Is this article accurate?
Other news sites are reporting that Clinton did in fact arrive in Yangon, and then subsequently traveled to Naypyidaw; they are reporting that the airport at the new capital is incomplete.
FRIVCITY
2:44 PM ET
December 5, 2011
Fake image?
So what is he doing in that image if she didn't went to Yangon. Friv | Friv Games "Other news sites are reporting that Clinton did in fact arrive in Yangon, and then subsequently traveled to Naypyidaw; they are reporting that the airport at the new capital is incomplete."
MASSAGENS TANTRICAS
8:07 AM ET
December 8, 2011
Lets put it this ...
And just 3 years later an opportune unrest unseated and killed him. With dictators falling at an unusual regularity, I'd guess that regimes like this one are running scared. That might explain the astrologer part of the plan.
JOCURI0212
2:47 AM ET
December 9, 2011
Hillary Clinton
Thailand has done much the same thing by moving it's governmental complex further north of Bangkok.But i appreciate the photography though. jocuri gratis
ONEN
1:05 PM ET
December 11, 2011
Finally ....
I'm glad that myanmar has finally decided to open up. I think her people has suffered enough from the isolation. I have so many friends from there. fgb